Hi,I would like to make you aware that your list of Maria’s performances is not complete. She performed at Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos, in Lisbon-Portugal, in the 1950’s.  The opera staged was La traviata.  There is a recording of this performance live, from a private source.

Kind regards

Luis J. Guerreiro

 “La Traviata of Lisbon” :  is also the title of a theatre piece by Terence McNelly (first of the most noted “Master Class).   It is directly in the EMI catalog with a perfect sound, and Alfredo Kraus and Mario Sereni sing with Callas.  The influential conductor is Franco Ghione.  It goes on the scene March 27, 1958.  This is the only Traviata of Lisbon.  She indicates the year 1950.  It is perhaps an error?   No chronology reports  a Traviata in Portugal in ’50.

Subject: Recording of La Giocanda

Dear Friends,I write you because it’s totally impossibile for me to find record of the first performance of la Giocanda done by Callas (that of Cetra): not in the catalogs, I can find them on the Internet.  It is almost the only one that lacks in my discography.Tantissime grazie.

Xavier Reyes Matheus

The new Fonit Cetra SpA (Warner\Fonit) has recently republished  for their fiftieth anniversary, collections in Cd, the first 78 tours of Maria Callas recorded in 1949 and published in 1950.  The publication of the complete: GIOCANDA and Traviata, has been announced.  Giocanda was recently published by Palladio, the original recording of the 1952 version.

Subject: La Mamma Morta

Hi, I am approaching only now a little bit for a joke, lyric music and I have fallen in love with Maria Callas.  I would like to know, given that I have not succeeded in finding the text, in which the opera is inserted (if it exists), “La mamma morta”, “The mother dies”, aria which has a part in the soundtrack of Philadelphia, the celebrity film with Tom Hanks.  If there is ever the chance you may have the text, I pray you will send it to me.
I await your response. Thank you

Valentina

I would love the lyrics from the song La Mamma Morta, that Maria sang on the soundtrack to Philadelphia. Thank you for your time,

Jim Stewart

Sir\Madam:Could you please tell me the song Maria Callas samg in the American movie “Philadelphia”?

Andrea Watson

Here is the (English translation of the) text to “La Mamma Morta”
It is about the famous and unique romance of “Madeleine” in the ultimate work of Umberto Giordano.  It is the dramatic retelling by the Countess of Coigny, who had lost her mother and all things precious with the French Revolution to Gerard, already a butler in his palace and now boss in the tribunal of the people.  So that the poet Andrea Chènier could be saved, with whom she is in love, Madeleine was disposed to offer herself to Gerard. 

La mamma morta "("Andrea Chenier" Maddalena di Giordano atto 3°)

Madeleine

Subject: A photo

I have a photograph with a dedication and autograph of Maria Callas, which has great emotional value to my mother and I was curious to know if it also has any monetary value. 

Eugenia De Cesaris

Certainly, a beautiful photo with an autograph (The one you have is from 1954, immediately after the thinning and with a new look.).  It is sold in international book shops, for example, at the “Met” of New York-from 300 to 1,000 dollars.

Subject: in search of........

I'm in search of the 1954 recording of “DON CARLO” di MARIA CALLAS.

Recorded on April 23th, same year.

I'd like to have any information on the subject.

Martin Mayer

Unfortunately, there is no more hope of refinding record of some memorable interpretations in Verona of Maria Callas, operas which happened to not get transmitted directly from RAI.: Fedora, A Turk in Italy, The Pirate and Don Carlo.  Fortunately, at least, some extremely beautiful images exist which were done by the official photographer of the Scala Theatre in Milan, Piccagliani.

For  “Don Carlo” then, one  needs to be satisfied with the 1958  recording (Heroines of Verdi, a splendid album comprising an aria from Macbeth) of “You Who Are the Vain“, directed by Nicola Rescigno.  After 1959, he often inserted these parts in concerts (A few live recordings exist with an optimum sound.) per esempio, the aria of Elizabeth which is that of Eboli (mezzo soprano), “O Don Fatale”.  Fortunately, there exists a stunning video of Amburgo (1959) and in 1962 (always video) at Convent Garden. 

Subject: It won’t be surprising...

Dear Mr. Tosi,

First of all, please permit me to present myself: I am a Russian woman and my name is Tatiana Tihonova.  My husband and I are great fans of Callas; We possess many discs and films, besides some books about her.  Among these, there is also your book, The Young Callas, which we read with great enjoyment.  We would like to be members of the International Friends of Callas Association of which you are president: is it possible to do it living in Saint Petersburg?  How does one do it and what are the benefits of becomiong a member?

Tatiana Tihonova

The Maria Callas International Association which I preside over, was founded in 1992 in Venice.  Recently at the Lincoln Center of New York, we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of or dedication to the diva.  We came from all of the cities important in Callas’s life. From Venice, to Rome, from Verona to Florence, from Paris (the last theatrical exhibition in “Norma”) to Tokyo in the grande foyer of the first opera theatre constructed in Japan (in Tokyo the last exhibition of Maria was in concert with Di Stefano in 1974).  We are preparing a new membership card for members of our association.  All will be welcome.  We  wait for our first support via e-mail.

Do you have any information on the performance of “Norma”, Vicenzo bellini, director Vittorio Gui in London 1952?  Also, which is considered her most brilliant performance?  Any information will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

Nancy M. Shea

“Norma” in 1952 at Covent Garden (of which fortunately exists evidence, also in CD and with optimum sound) represents sensational debut of Maria Callas, in the most famous English theatre, lead by Vittorio Gui and with the direction of Franco Enriquez.  A memorable recital also because in the role of Clotilde, a small role, sang the not yet famous, Joan Sutherland.  The testifying Norma was lacking in London from 1932 and the last performer of that role was the mythical Rosa Ponselle.  Callas had already debued Norma in Florence, thereby had brought this great               work of Bellini and his most grande style, to Venice, Rome, Catania and cities in Mexico.  At the Scala Theatre in Milan, here the interpreter is born again, but to true reported triumph (It is divided with Ebe Stignani, “Adalgia”) not entirely corrisponding to the criticism.  So would it be for many years, also at the Scala.  Only Andrew Smith in the “Daily Herald” gave a title to Callas: “Maria in a rage was terrifying:  “SHE TOOK LONDON BY STORM.

I am a guy of almost 14 years of age of Lombardy. I am a fan of the divine Maria Callas and crazy for “La Traviata”, which I listen to every day. I sincerely thank you for your site about Maria and for the efforts you have made to allow others the chance  to know the best singer of the century. I would like to ask if it is possible, that you send me information and photos on the greek soprano.

Our website will continually be updated with new images, often unpublished, and with writings dedicated to Maria.

Subject: Maria Callas Competition

I am being asked for information about the Maria Callas Competition and the next event in Rome.

Would you be able to get me the information?

In response to both Miss Bianca Fusco and Mrs. Elisabetta Fernandez of Maurecourt (France) for the last messages received.  Many other messages have arrived asking for information about the Callas Competition 2000.  The finals will be held at a place in Parma, coinciding with the Verdi Festival (2001 is the centennial of the dealth of verdi and the Callas competition is dedicated to him) in October 2001.

As always, the competition is extremely disorganized and it will be difficult to find and the information for those interested.  Although RAI can do everything.

Subject: Callas’ Paris Residence

I will be in paris April 4-9, and would like to make a pilgrimage to maria Callas’ apartment in the Avenue George Mandel.  Could you please send me her address?  I understand there’s a plaque to commemorate her having lived there.I’ve already been to her tomb in Pere Lachaise and will visit it again. Thank you. You can e-mail me at the following address:

Steven Lavigne

Avenue Georges Mandel, n. 36: this is the Paris address of Maria Callas.  In the small garden inside, in the facade of the residence, there is a small plate with an inscription in gold letters:

Ici Est Décédée

Maria Callas

Le 16 September 1977

The appartment which happened to be that of Maria Callas, is now the property of a rich Arabian entrepreneur. 

In the glorious historical cemetery of Pere Lachaise of Paris, the tomb of Maria Callas is not present, which was cremated immediately after her death.   The ashes became the custody for a few months of Pere Lachaise (Now there is only a small tombstone